The Difference

Chapter 12

Troy and I rush toward the ball room and gain the attention of everyone in the room, yet again, as we make our way down the stairs, hand in hand.

"Nice of you to join us," Mrs. Marigold adds. I consider flipping off "her majesty" but I decide against it. A mischievous smile comes across my face and Troy whispers in my ear, jokingly, "Behave yourself."

"That's no fun," I whisper back and he laughs. We take our seats at the table. As we sit down, Mrs. Marigold stands up.

"If all of the shenanigans are finished," she starts, giving us a glare, "I'd like to dismiss everyone. We have two weeks until my final ball, and I'd like to take time to sit down with my close family and the two young women that will be planning the event for us."

Everyone remains seated, as Mrs. Marigold grows impatient with no one taking her orders.

"You may go!" She raises her voice. I look around as strangers begin to exit the mansion. Some people I recognize as decorators, who go right back upstairs with their fabric patterns and measuring tapes. I whisper to Troy, "why are they going upstairs to decorate?"

"Maybe they are keeping their supplies in a room upstairs," he answers, not bothered by it. I begin to ponder for a second, but Ava catches my attention.

"You ready?" She asks me, now standing beside me.

"Oh, yeah. Let's go," I say, as we follow Mrs. Marigold to a smaller, round table across the room. Ellen, George, Brad, and Troy all follow behind us.

"Alright, you two sit next to me," she says to Ava and I. "Be sure to take notes."

Brad and Troy sit alongside us, and Ellen and George sit across from us.

"So, the theme I want to follow is Enchanted Forest."

We all nod in agreement.

"I want only the most beautiful flowers in my arrangement."

"Lillies?" Brad chimes in and I face palm. Before Mrs. Marigold can say anything negative, I chime in as well.

"How about peonies?"

She forms what I assume is her version of a smile.

"Yes. What else?" She asks Ava.

"Uh... roses! Of course, roses." She answers and we both share a smile.

"Precisely," she answers as if the question was a test.

"In terms of room decor, all of this pink wallpaper will be going. We will replace it with an appropriate color."

"How about sage?" I offer, confidently.

"How about you let me finish?" Mrs. Marigold shoots back. "So, we will do sage wallpaper." Troy grows annoyed, and I almost hear him chime in but I see Ellen give him a warning look as if to say "not now."

"I want marvelous fairy lights everywhere. An obscene amount of flowers. I want the staircase to look extravagant. New curtains. New everything. Do you understand?" She asks Ava and I.

"What's your budget, Mrs. Marigold?" Ellen and George seem especially intrigued to hear the answer to this.

"There is no budget. Just throw me a wonderful ball," she finishes, getting up.

"Oh, that's it?" I say, as she walks away from us, not responding.

"No budget?" Troy asks Brad.

"You know your grandmother holds a large stake of the family business, boys," George adds before walking outside of the ballroom.

"Excuse us," Ellen says politely. "George isn't too thrilled about having to miss work for... all of this." She says, going after him.